Tashawn Bower, DE

Somerville, New Jersey native Tashawn Bower was offered by the Fighting Irish on February 21st, shortly before a very important weekend in which Brian Kelly and Co. will be hosting juniors.

Rated as a 4-Star prospect by Rivals.com, Bower has received offers from many of the nation's premier programs.

Among the schools that have offered Bower are Arkansas, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Carolina, to name a few.

Classified as a weakside defensive end, the 6'5", 230-pound prospect projects as a dominant outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but has the capability to add the necessary size to play on the interior.

The Irish may have an advantage in acquiring Bower as he attends Immaculata High School, the alma mater of current running back Theo Riddick.

Hatari Byrd, DB

As Notre Dame continues to build depth in the defensive backfield, the addition of a player such as Hatari Byrd would be more than welcome.

Byrd, a 6'1", 195-pound native of Fresno, Calif., is rated as a 4-star prospect by Rivals.com.

An interesting storyline with Byrd is that he attends the same high school (Central East) that incoming freshman Tee Shepard attended for three years.

It remains to be seen whether or not that connection will pay dividends for Notre Dame.

That's not the only storyline with Byrd, though. He is being personally recruited for Houston by Jamie Christian, the same coach who was able to lure Deontay Greenberry out the Irish's grasp on National Signing Day.